I think we misunderstand the depths of God’s goodness. That’s understandable because of the depths of our depravity. We are so far away from knowing Him and His ways that it’s mind-boggling. Still, God puts up with us and keeps plugging away at revealing Himself to us for the purpose of making us the kind of people He wants us to be.

Although Romans chapter one plainly lays out a devastating problem, Romans chapter two comes back with a remedy that involves God’s goodness. In chapter one, we read that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven” because of suppression of the truth about God that is “clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that [those suppressing the truth] are without excuse” Romans 1:18-20 (NKJ). Chapter one goes on to say that since those folks did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful, He gave them up to uncleanness, vile passions, and a debased mind (See verses 24-28). The chapter then ends by saying, “those who practice such things [as are specified in verses 24-31] are deserving of death” Romans 1:32.

After all of that, we should be pretty scared, but thankfully, we can keep reading Romans chapter two. This chapter starts off by sweeping in those who would look down their noses at the folks caught up in the truth-suppression mentioned in chapter one. It’s one thing to speak the truth about God’s truth; it’s quite another to judge a person based upon it. We are not judging one another by reminding each other of God’s standards. We slip over into judgment when we pronounce that there is no hope for deliverance. In Romans 2:1, God tells us that we are “inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things” (NKJ). God is not saying that those folks’ sins are okay; He’s telling us that ours rank just as high.

Now here’s the great news that God is trying to get across to us: every one of us—the wretched truth-suppressors from chapter one and the wretched doing-the-samers of chapter two—is still a candidate for “the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering” Romans 2:4. Why? Because “the goodness of God leads you to repentance” Romans 2:5. God’s not blessing us because we’re good; He’s blessing us because He’s good. We need to stop wishing for bad things to happen to those we consider sinful. God’s goodness leads to repentance. And once repentance happens, God “will render to each one according to his deeds.” Thanks to God’s goodness, all of us can receive from Him “eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality” Romans 2:6-7.

God has not changed His mind about sin. We still need to speak the truth about all sin and pray for all of our deliverance from it. But we mustn’t judge each other as hopeless causes just because we can’t understand each other’s bondages. God’s goodness is as powerful to deliver the drug addict, the adulterer, and the homosexual, as it is to deliver the envious, the racist, and the backbiter.

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©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, andPower Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Did anyone have a mom who would only put up with your foolishness for so long? She would speak to you, place you on time-out, scold you, or even spank you about something you kept doing. Then your stubbornness to continue in your folly finally caused her to look at you and say, “Okay, you just keep on, I’m done.” Somehow you knew you had taken her across the line for her to have given up. You also knew that you were hanging out there on your own and you were on your way to a worse consequence than Mom could ever dole out. Once Mom gives up on you, watch out.

God is even more patient with us than Mom, but He comes to times when He gives up. As with Mom, God gives up when we push Him to do so. We can’t blame Him for the negative consequences that follow because He gives us chance after chance, and warning after warning that something bad is about to happen.

In the Old Testament, God gave up when the wickedness of mankind got ridiculously out of control. Genesis 6:5-7 tells us, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them’” (NKJ). After this, God flooded out the earth.

God gave up again in Numbers 14:22-23. He had brought the children of Israel out of the cruel Egyptian bondage and was taking them to a wonderful land, but most of the people kept disobeying and disrespecting Him. Finally He said, “Because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it” (NKJ).

One would think we’d learn to simply do things God’s way, but no. We get to the New Testament, and Paul tells us that despite the things about God that are “clearly seen,” we have still pushed and pushed for our own way. Some of us have pushed God to give up yet again. And the consequences are dire. Those who have “suppress[ed] the truth in unrighteousness… God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator… God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” Romans 1:8, 24-28 (NKJ).

So what happens when God gives up? In Genesis, it was a worldwide flood. In Numbers, it was exclusion from reaching the Promised Land. In Romans—the current dispensation, which means today—the consequences are the shameful exchange of the natural use of one’s body, an earned penalty related to one’s health, and a debased mind. Ultimately, God says, “those who practice such things are deserving of death” Romans 1:32 (NKJ).

Here’s the good news. It is not necessary for any of us to suffer these consequences because we’ve pushed God to give up. Experience His amazing mercy today by trusting His word rather than your feelings. We glorify God by honoring our bodies, using them in the way He intended. Restoration is available in repentance. He will not give up on us when we line up with His word.

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©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, andPower Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

I do not like being confused. If I am involved in something, I want to be able to understand everything that’s going on. This helps me give my all to the situation, organization, or project. When someone can explain, or when I can read and comprehend the instructions, I feel immensely better and much more confident about my participation. I guess you could say that I then own my connection. Understanding the inside scoop means I am truly a part and this brings me joy.

The people of God need to understand God’s word so they can own their connection as well. In the chapter 8 of the book of Nehemiah, we see how this works. Ezra the scribe brought the Book of the Law “before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding” Nehemiah 8:2 (NKJ). Upon hearing the word of God being read, the people’s first reaction was to answer “‘Amen, Amen!’ while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground” (verse 6). The Levites then joined in and “read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading” (verse 8).

Upon understanding the word of God, the people’s resulting reaction was joy. And the result of that joy was strength. Yes, this is the context of the oft-quoted words, “for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (verse 10).

God does mean for us to understand Him, and we do that by understanding His word. Lots of people who have never read the Bible like to express their opinions about God, Jesus, and the stands taken by Christians, but unless we read and study the Bible, our joy is not full, our outlook is weak, and our opinions are moot. Read the Bible, and you’ll receive understanding, joy, and strength—such a deal.

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©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, andPower Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Have you ever come to a conclusion before completely investigating all of your options? If so, you may have been embarrassed about your original thought because more information revealed new truth. Our conclusions based on what we see at first are not necessarily accurate. We see evidence of this truth in the Bible.

Acts 28:1-6 relates part of Paul’s journey to Rome. After escaping a terrible storm, they found themselves on the island of Malta. Here’s the account:

Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. (NKJ)

The natives of Malta knew Paul was being transported to Rome as a prisoner, so when they saw he was bitten by the snake, their first conclusion made sense to them—“No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”

However, upon further observation, they changed their conclusion, again based upon what they had seen. “But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.”

Here’s the kicker—both times their conclusions were wrong. This teaches us that even though we observe activities with our eyes, our conclusions about what we see could still be incorrect based upon missing information. The citizens of Malta were missing information about Paul’s spiritual identity. He wasn’t a murderer and he wasn’t a god. Paul was a representative of the Kingdom of God and the power of God was working on his behalf.

When observing God’s people, it behooves us to be careful about the conclusions we draw based upon what we see. Especially before drawing negative conclusions, we should gather all the evidence. And our conclusions must take into account the fact that God is working on their behalf. Just because a viper may have bitten them—or some other serious problem has arisen—that doesn’t mean they can’t ever be all right again. We cannot allow problems to define us or our estimation of others.

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(c)2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

It never ceases to amaze me to see how public figures think they can hide their dirty little secrets. Politicians cheat on their wives and think no one will find out. Financiers swindle investors and figure they’ll never get caught. High-profile lawyers conceal evidence to get their guilty clients released and feel their cleaver courtroom antics instead of the truth will sway the judge and jury in their favor. Actors and musicians act out in public thinking they can do what they want because of their celebrity. Sooner or later, they all find themselves behind a microphone on the news, as the scandal headline in the papers, and as the butt of jokes on late night talk shows. Their families are torn apart, their fortunes suffer, and their character is forever tarnished.

This type of thing existed in Bible days too. Just when the remnant was rejoicing over safely having delivered all the treasures to the temple they were rebuilding, the word of a dirty little secret came to Ezra. “After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, ‘The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices… And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.’” Ezra 9:1-2 (NIV). Ezra was doubly hurt to discover even the leaders’ involvement and knew God’s blessings would not continue unless they cleaned up their act.

Public figures, church leaders, or regular folks like us are all subject to universal truths that have been set in place by God. What’s done in the darkness will be brought to the light and what goes around, comes around. Especially in our lives as believers, we cannot expect to enjoy the abundant life God offers if we insist upon living shabby, slipshod lives of questionable character. Even the little things matter. Read some of God’s wisdom on the subject:

¨ Dan 2:22 He reveals deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.

¨ Jer 23:24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?” says the LORD; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD.

¨ Luke 12:2-3 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

¨ Heb 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

¨ Num 32:23b …be sure your sin will find you out.

(All previous verses from NKJ)
I think it would be a good idea to get rid of your dirty little secrets, don’t you? Confessing them before God means turning from participation in them. Do whatever you have to do to fix what you’ve messed up. Start today.

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©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

At my AuthorizeMe Seminar, I teach people how to write the book that’s on their heart and position it to be published. I coach them through the necessary thought process so they can answer the publisher’s questions such as, “What is your book about?” “To whom does its message matter?” and “What are you willing to do to help market it?”

I give the students an assignment that’s due to me in one month. The purpose of this assignment is to encourage them to continue along their path to publication. I want to cheer them on and let them know someone believes in them and is there to help. I request that they send me via e-mail what they have done on their project since the class. After spending the money to take the seminar, working through the 12-hour process, and having 30 days to build on what they’ve learned, it never ceases to amaze me how few people do anything further.

Proverbs 21:25-26 says, “The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, for his hands refuse to work; all day long he is craving, while the righteous gives and does not hold back” (NAS). In other words, even though we long for something very badly, our own longings can destroy us when we refuse to put in the work it takes to get things done. However, we are handling our desires wisely and righteously when we diligently give our time and effort to the work.

God has set goals in your heart for a reason; He intends to see you get those things done. Accomplishing those goals will both honor Him and prosper you. Why are you trippin’? Achievement takes effort and accomplishments are the result of exertion. God works it in; you must work it out (see Philippians 2:12-13). Get to work!

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©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

There have been haters since Biblical days. Cyrus king of Persia was moved by God to allow the Israelite captives to go back to their land and rebuild the temple to honor God. The work started, but as the years passed and other kings arose, “…the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel…” (Ezra 4:1, NKJ), and they got mad when they weren’t a part. They wrote scandalous letters to the new king and got the work stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius, a new king of Persia.

We read in Ezra chapters 5 and 6 about the work getting under way again and yet more haters arose sending another letter. This time the haters were thwarted by a good filing system. When Darius received the letter, he had some research done. The clerks went back into the files and found Cyrus’ original decree to rebuild the temple. Darius not only upheld that decree, but ordered the haters to supply the builders with whatever they needed – whatever would make them comfortable – to complete the work.

Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (NKJ). Don’t sweat the haters. You just keep doing what God has told you to do. Your haters had better watch out! God can handle them. Before they know it, they just might be the ones supporting and financing the work God has called you to do.

Oh, and keep up with your paperwork. You never know when keeping your natural business straight will help in keeping your spiritual business running smoothly.

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©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

From 1966 – 1970, the warning on a package of cigarettes said, “Caution: Cigarette Smoking May be Hazardous to Your Health.” When findings made it clear that tar and nicotine actually did destroy the lungs, the warning was changed to read, “Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined that Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous to Your Health.” In 1985, other warnings were added including these which say, “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy,” and “Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health.”

Back in 1970, one of my friends who was a smoker remembers when the “may be hazardous” was changed to “is dangerous.” He was watching television, smoking a cigarette at his kitchen table, as the surgeon general made the announcement. After picking up the package and reading the warning for himself, he looked at the cigarette in his hand and proclaimed, “Then I’m a fool.” He hasn’t smoked a cigarette since.

The story of the beginning of King Hezekiah’s reign in 2 Chronicles 29 reminds me of my friend’s immediate change. From the time he was 9-years-old, Hezekiah had watched as his dad, King Ahaz, insisted upon serving foreign gods, thus causing the wrath of God to be poured out upon the people of Judah in the form of attacks by several different nations. When Hezekiah took to the throne, he said, “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us” 2 Chronicles 29:10 (NKJ). He then went about repairing the temple, putting the priests and Levites back to work, and gathering the people to offer sin and thank offerings and begin to worship.

The final verse of the 2 Chronicles 29 is key. “Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly” (verse 36). You see, it didn’t take a long time for the people to shift gears and start doing what was right. My former pastor used to say, “When you find more light, walk in it.” The Word of God is clear as to how we should conduct our lives. What’s takes us so long to simply turn around and start to obey? How about making that sudden, positive change today?

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©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

I once delivered a message for the Women’s Christian Fellowship group of the International Council of Community Churches. These women had come together from all over the country for their annual denominational convention. I joked with them, knowing they must be an august, serious group with lots of faith in me to figure I had something worthwhile to say about their complex topic – the role of women in the modern church – at 7:00A.M. for 20 minutes.

Well, the gist of my message was that since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, His intention for a woman’s role, no matter where she is, has not changed since God created woman in the first place. If we look at all of Scripture, at all the many roles women have played in Biblical history, and at how God the Son dealt with women, we can see clearly that God is in the business of including women in His work and using them to bring Him glory.

Of course, I went into more detail – 20 minutes’ worth – in the actual message, and afterward the ladies were generous with their praise and encouraged at being reminded of their usefulness to the Kingdom. But I was struck not so much by the adulation, but by the oneness I felt in the room. Here we were, Christians from many different cities and states, together because of a common cause, mainly our love for our Lord. Even at an early hour, here we were, together to hear one more time from the Scriptures, trusting that we’d hear something that would change us, inspire us, motivate us, or challenge us. I didn’t need to know them and they didn’t need to know me. All we needed to know is that we all knew the Savior. This is a community – the community of the saints – of which I’m ecstatic to be a part.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 15:5-6 (NIV)

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©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott.

Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. (Stream current show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or view past episodes anytime!)

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Why I Get Into Trouble as well as other favorites, Boomerangs to Arrows, and Power Suit

Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

(Boomerangs Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk )

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Do we actually expect God to change things in and for others in miraculous ways as we intercede for them? Is it as clear to you as it is to me that some changes just aren’t going to happen unless God steps in? After praying about tough situations for a long time, it’s easy to get discouraged. We can start thinking things like:

• Maybe I’m going about this all wrong.
• Perhaps God doesn’t want this situation to change.
• I guess my prayers don’t carry much weight.
• It could be that God’s not really listening.

Well, before we throw in the towel, let’s be reminded of some miraculous changes God pulled off in the lives of two very prominent and headstrong individuals.

First, there was King Manasseh. Second Chronicles chapter 33 tells us of this guy who started reigning as king of Jerusalem when he was 12 years old and he held the throne for 55 years. His dedication to idol worship was so bad that it is said of him that he “seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel” Second Chronicles 33:9 (NKJ). However, when the Lord allowed the Assyrians to capture him, torture him, and carry him away, suddenly “when [Manasseh] was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him.” (Funny how that happens!) In His great mercy, God “received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God” Second Chronicles 33:12-13. After that, Manasseh made a complete, public turn-around, casting all the foreign idols out of the city. No one would have believed that this idol-worshipping king would ever change, but it became known far and wide how Manasseh had humbled himself before the Lord.

Second, there’s the story of Saul of Tarsus. Saul was an avowed Christian-killer. He was on his way to Damascus with official permission to do some in when Jesus stopped him. Acts chapter 9 tells of Saul being literally hit by the Light of heaven and tossed to the ground. The New Life Version of the Bible translates the encounter between Paul and Jesus in this way: “[Jesus] said, ‘I am Jesus, the One Whom you are working against. You hurt yourself by trying to hurt Me.’ Saul was shaken and surprised. Then he said, ‘What do You want me to do, Lord?’ Acts 9:5-6. As staunch an opponent to believers as Saul was, he made a 180 degree turn when personally confronted by Jesus. Saul’s name was changed to Paul and he ended up being the apostle to the Gentiles and writing much of the New Testament.

God cares as much about the deliverance and transformation of our loved ones as He did about Manasseh’s and Paul’s. God hears our prayers. It may only take a gentle nudge, or it might take some hard knocks, but Jesus is able to get through to them in a way that will make the conversion complete and permanent. Let’s be encouraged, keep praying, and keep our eyes peeled and our ears open to witness and hear of God’s miraculous move in their lives.

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©2015 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

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